SALIENT FEATURES

OF NAIROBI
CONVENTION, 1985
TANUJA KRISHNA REDDY
VI semester 3 year LLB ‘B’
Registration number: 40320111105
Subject: Environmental Law
 INTRODUCTION
 The Western Indian Ocean region is characterised by high biodiversity, both in terms of species
and ecosystems, have always played a prominent role in maintaining the ecological balances.

 Owing to unfriendly exploitation of natural resources, overfishing, shipwrecks and anthropogenic

activities contributing to pollution, oceans have become a focal point of environmental concerns.

 Several conventions, treaties and declarations were entered into by the States for a healthier
marine environment. Nairobi Convention is one such engagement.
NAIROBI CONVENTION

 Nairobi Convention forms the flagship programme of the

United Nations Environment Programme’s Regional Seas Programme. The Convention, signed in
1985, was effected from 1996.

 It aims at the sustainable development of the marine and coastal environment by international
cooperation.

 This convention was mainly passed for the protection, management and development of the
marine and coastal environment of the East-African region.

 The Convention takes into account the pertinent environmental provisions as proposed by
prominent international treaties like
 Basel Convention of 1989,
 Bamako Convention of 1991,
 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 and the strategies adopted by the
nations worldwide.
 The Programme is funded by the East African Trust Fund.
Western Indian Ocean region
 The Convention’s
Contracting Parties are:
 (Comoros, France, Kenya,
Madagascar, Mauritius,
Mozambique, Seychelles,
Somalia, Tanzania and the
Republic of South Africa ).
THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE CONVENTION ARE
TO:

 offer a legal framework and coordinate the efforts of the countries to protect, manage and
develop their marine space,
 provide a forum for inter-governmental discussions for better understanding of regional
environmental problems, the strategies needed to address them and solutions,
 facilitate the periodic assessment of the state of coastal and marine environment.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

1. National Focal Points: They are the main line of communication between Contracting
Parties and the Secretariat.

2. Secretariat: The Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme acts as
the Secretariat and serves as the central administrator for the Convention and implementation
of the work program.

3. Partners of the Convention: They support the Nairobi Convention in carrying out the
activities of the work programme.

4. Expert groups/Task forces address emerging issues in the region.

5. Regional Coordinating Unit (RCU) - The central coordinating body of the Nairobi
Convention.
FUNCTIONS
 The Convention promotes
 International cooperation from regional organisations
 Collaboration between nations and regional organisations to promote
technological and scientific advancements,
 Development of research centres and exchange of information for better
implementation.
 AREAS OF WORK
 Under the 2018-2022 Nairobi Convention Proposed Programme of Work, the Convention has four
priority areas:

1. Assessments and capacity building: Ecosystems and resources are assessed, including on areas
such as sources of pollution, marine litter, economic valuations of the marine and coastal environment,
and the impacts of climate change.

2. Management: sustainable use, and protection of the Western Indian Ocean region

3. Coordination and legal aspects: , including through implementing and updating the Convention
and its protocols, developing new protocols,

4. Information and awareness: to raise awareness among the public of the importance of the Western
Indian Ocean region.
ONGOING PROJECTS
 Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the protection of the
Western Indian Ocean from land-based sources and activities (WIOSAP)
 The Western Indian Ocean Large Marine Ecosystems Strategic Action
Programme Policy Harmonisation and Institutional Reforms (SAPPHIRE)
 Integrated Management of the Marine and Coastal Resources of the Northern
Mozambique Channel (NoCaMo) Project
CONCLUSION
 The constant efforts of the Organisation to promote regional cooperation, exchange of data
and technical assistance to underdeveloped countries have resulted in some positive outcomes.
The current day situation of most of the estuaries has improved in terms of a healthy flow of
rivers, thriving mangroves and restoration of endangered marine species.
 Key achievements:
1. Finalization of negotiations for a Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management

2. Support to the Northern Mozambique Channel as a good example of integrated ocean

management approach.
3. Support for sustainable fisheries management and biodiversity conservation of deep-sea
living marine resources and ecosystems in the areas beyond national jurisdiction.
4. Regional oil and gas development capacity building programme in the Western Indian
Ocean region (2016)